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East of A
When Payton Sherwood takes a wrong turn on a Manhattan East Village side street, he stumbles into trouble--in the form of three bull-necked heavies and a tough sixteen-year-old runaway named Gloria. After taking a savage beating, Payton is robbed of his Rolex watch and left bleeding on the sidewalk.
Tracking Gloria, Payton winds his way through Alphabet City--in and out of trendy after-hours dives, across vacant lots, and into barrio tenements. Here the shadows that frighten aren't those that shade the street but rather the soul. Payton's dusk-to-dawn nightmare on the wild side is about to begin--and nothing will stop it but death. . . .
Tracking Gloria, Payton winds his way through Alphabet City--in and out of trendy after-hours dives, across vacant lots, and into barrio tenements. Here the shadows that frighten aren't those that shade the street but rather the soul. Payton's dusk-to-dawn nightmare on the wild side is about to begin--and nothing will stop it but death. . . .
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 9, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 3, 2020
In Russ Atwood’s book, “East of A”, being his first novel, This Ballentine hard cover is signed by Mr. Atwood.
Payton Sherwood, While making a food run late one night in his East Village neighborhood, Payton is a marginally employed P.I. with a yen for justice and a healthy dash of self-deprecating charm., he saves a young street girl from three tough guys , only to have her steal his watch and split after the thugs leave him in a puddle of his own blood. A quick search turns up the girl's beeper and her name: Gloria.
Payton vows to track her down, retrieve his watch -and find out why Gloria was being hunted by the thugs. The beeper leads Payton to a string of idiosyncratic East Villagers, all involved in the interconnected underworlds of dance-club culture and drug trafficking, where fierce loyalties are met with equally fierce betrayals. Payton's dogged and unpaid footwork brings him to the murderous vortex of the club-kid drug ring, a church-cum-nightclub called the Hellhole.
I would say that the book was a homage to Raymond Chandler. Instead of California, the book takes place in lower Manhattan in the late 1990’s.
Payton Sherwood, While making a food run late one night in his East Village neighborhood, Payton is a marginally employed P.I. with a yen for justice and a healthy dash of self-deprecating charm., he saves a young street girl from three tough guys , only to have her steal his watch and split after the thugs leave him in a puddle of his own blood. A quick search turns up the girl's beeper and her name: Gloria.
Payton vows to track her down, retrieve his watch -and find out why Gloria was being hunted by the thugs. The beeper leads Payton to a string of idiosyncratic East Villagers, all involved in the interconnected underworlds of dance-club culture and drug trafficking, where fierce loyalties are met with equally fierce betrayals. Payton's dogged and unpaid footwork brings him to the murderous vortex of the club-kid drug ring, a church-cum-nightclub called the Hellhole.
I would say that the book was a homage to Raymond Chandler. Instead of California, the book takes place in lower Manhattan in the late 1990’s.
June 25, 2012
PI Payton Sherwood tries to stop three skinheads who are roughing up a girl and gets beaten up in the process. On top of that, the girl swipes his watch while he is down. Payton's quest to retrieve the missing watch and find girl who took it leads him through New York's homeless community and seedy underground clubs. Can Payton find his watch before trouble finds him?
East of A is good detective story but doesn't bring a whole lot of new ideas to the table. The mystery isn't an easily solveable one. However, that's not to say it's not a good read. Atwood knows how to turn a phrase and Payton Sherwood is a little more detailed than many noir protagonists. The action isn't frequent but is fairly brutal when it does come. People burned alive, thrown out of windows, etc.
I didn't enjoy East of A as much as I did Losers Live Longer, the Payton Sherwood book after this one, but it's still a good read, a gripping page turner.
East of A is good detective story but doesn't bring a whole lot of new ideas to the table. The mystery isn't an easily solveable one. However, that's not to say it's not a good read. Atwood knows how to turn a phrase and Payton Sherwood is a little more detailed than many noir protagonists. The action isn't frequent but is fairly brutal when it does come. People burned alive, thrown out of windows, etc.
I didn't enjoy East of A as much as I did Losers Live Longer, the Payton Sherwood book after this one, but it's still a good read, a gripping page turner.
Read
April 29, 2015In structure and tone, Russell Atwood's first novel is a wonderful homage to Chandler, relocating and updating his classic PI formula to lower Manhattan in the late 1990's. The first-person protagonist is flawed and likable; the prose is good with occasional brilliant turns of phrase or metaphor that make you go back and read over ("he held his thumbs in fists again, so much pressure I thought they'd burst like plums"); and the "mystery" is well constructed, with more than a handful of diverse characters and plot threads coming together in the end. The resolution is satisfactory but not altogether satisfying, and that's probably the way good neo-noir should be. The best thing EAST OF A has going for it, which has little to do with the genre, is the way it captures in palpable and loving detail a time and a place: the East Village at the turn of the last Millennium. Given what East Village looks like these days, jumping into that time machine in itself makes the book worth the read, and EAST OF A is a little less mannered or self-consciously literary in this mission than, say, Richard Price's LUSH LIFE. My complaint about EAST OF A is that the whole somehow felt a little less than the sum of its parts: the book was indubitably solid, but didn't create in me the urgency to read just one more chapter the way that, say, Lawrence Block's "Scudder" books (which also wonderful capture a NYC long gone) do so amazingly. (Perhaps that's less a critique of Atwood and a compliment to Block's understated genius.) I'd rate EAST OF A just a half-star lower than Richard Aleas's "two book trilogy" (if you've read LITTLE GIRL LOST and SONGS OF INNOCENCE--and you should--you know why I call it that), but it deserves its place on the shelf. I am just realizing there's a second Payton Sherwood title out now, from Hardcase no less, and I will certainly read it. (One closing note: I believe Atwood worked at one of my favorite long-gone NYC mystery bookshops, Black Orchid--I don't think I ever met him, but I sure miss that shop.)
August 6, 2013
Coming back to the city after a child custody case in Syracuse. Middle of the night. Hungry. No food. Go out and get some milk and Cheerios. Three guys grab a girl. She’s in trouble. Payton Sherwood to the rescue. Bash a guy with the gallon jug. Milk bath? Proceed to get pulverized by the thugs. Ultimate injustice: girl steals my Rolex, payment for a previous case.
Payton Sherwood is pretty pissed off when he’s beaten to a pulp and has his watch stolen by the girl he was trying to rescue. He finds her beeper near the scene of the crime and is able to find out her name, Gloria Manlow, based on an incoming call from an animal hospital. His search takes him to a likeable pit bull, some flamboyant dance club types and a homeless man living with dignity in a vacant lot while tending a garden. There’s drug dealing and murder and an edgy sense of the city that propels the story. Payton is no superhero and is regularly pounded as he continues his quest.
Atwood excels at describing the urban scene; and indeed, this book has been referred to as an “urban thriller” and “downtown noir”. Don’t let those labels throw you, however, because there’s humor laced into the narrative as well. New York’s lower east side is the featured performer, but Payton is an interesting guy in his own right. The ending wasn’t totally satisfactory; but I enjoyed the journey so much that seems a minor quibble.
Payton Sherwood is pretty pissed off when he’s beaten to a pulp and has his watch stolen by the girl he was trying to rescue. He finds her beeper near the scene of the crime and is able to find out her name, Gloria Manlow, based on an incoming call from an animal hospital. His search takes him to a likeable pit bull, some flamboyant dance club types and a homeless man living with dignity in a vacant lot while tending a garden. There’s drug dealing and murder and an edgy sense of the city that propels the story. Payton is no superhero and is regularly pounded as he continues his quest.
Atwood excels at describing the urban scene; and indeed, this book has been referred to as an “urban thriller” and “downtown noir”. Don’t let those labels throw you, however, because there’s humor laced into the narrative as well. New York’s lower east side is the featured performer, but Payton is an interesting guy in his own right. The ending wasn’t totally satisfactory; but I enjoyed the journey so much that seems a minor quibble.
April 22, 2014
EAST OF A started with a bang, a near pitch perfect opening which looked to have set the tone for the remainder of the book; equal parts action and humour with a touch of character development thrown in to allow an immediate connection with the down-on-his-luck PI Payton Sherwood.
Coming to the aid of a young women who’s being roughed up by a couple of thugs, Sherwood steps in only to be handed a beating and then have his watch stolen by the very woman he was trying to save.
From there the plot follows Sherwood as he searches for this mystery women in order to retrieve his stolen goods. What he discovers is a deeper seeded mystery involving the theft of a new street drug, murder, and criminal activity that he didn’t sign up for.
EAST OF A follows a tight script and is much improved on the other Payton Sherwood novel I read published by Hardcase Crime, LOSERS LIVE LONGER. I though the pacing was right on par and the course of the investigation organic and not without justification.Yet EAST OF A just didn’t live up to that opening billing and the ending did feel too abrupt. That said I’ll be sure to search for more books featuring PI Payton Sherwood if they’re out there.
Review first published on Just A Guy That Likes To Read: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
Coming to the aid of a young women who’s being roughed up by a couple of thugs, Sherwood steps in only to be handed a beating and then have his watch stolen by the very woman he was trying to save.
From there the plot follows Sherwood as he searches for this mystery women in order to retrieve his stolen goods. What he discovers is a deeper seeded mystery involving the theft of a new street drug, murder, and criminal activity that he didn’t sign up for.
EAST OF A follows a tight script and is much improved on the other Payton Sherwood novel I read published by Hardcase Crime, LOSERS LIVE LONGER. I though the pacing was right on par and the course of the investigation organic and not without justification.Yet EAST OF A just didn’t live up to that opening billing and the ending did feel too abrupt. That said I’ll be sure to search for more books featuring PI Payton Sherwood if they’re out there.
Review first published on Just A Guy That Likes To Read: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
September 4, 2009
Payton Sherwood had been out of New York for a few weeks testifying at a trial. Arriving home in the middle of the night, he needs a few thing for the fridge and walks down to the neighborhood store. Headed home he comes upon three goons attacking a young teenage street kid. He wades in armed only with a gallon of milk.
All it gets him is a severe beat down. Left lying in a bloody, crumpled pile, he sees the street kid crawl from under a car after the trio run off, approaching. Figuring on some help, what she does is steal his Rolex(a payment instead of cash for an old case) and leaves him in the street.
Battered, he gets home sleeps, takes a shower, and returns to the scene the next morning looking for clues. Under the car where she'd hid, he finds a scarred beeper and this sets him him on her when he gets the head of his old agency to trace them.
He finds a body almost immediately and gets pulled into a world of "rave" clubs, drugs, runs into the three "stooges" again, more bodies, as he's trying ti find out who's doing the killing, who wants the street kid, and why.
All it gets him is a severe beat down. Left lying in a bloody, crumpled pile, he sees the street kid crawl from under a car after the trio run off, approaching. Figuring on some help, what she does is steal his Rolex(a payment instead of cash for an old case) and leaves him in the street.
Battered, he gets home sleeps, takes a shower, and returns to the scene the next morning looking for clues. Under the car where she'd hid, he finds a scarred beeper and this sets him him on her when he gets the head of his old agency to trace them.
He finds a body almost immediately and gets pulled into a world of "rave" clubs, drugs, runs into the three "stooges" again, more bodies, as he's trying ti find out who's doing the killing, who wants the street kid, and why.
September 8, 2011
A good book. Well written and rather fast paced novel.
January 18, 2017
I do not read a lot of PI novels but picked up this one and read it through, only pausing to go to work and to sleep. It had everything I would want in a book of this type, and then some. I didn't expect to laugh, but I did (where appropriate). The author captured NYC and was my GPS through the gritty streets and neighborhoods, allowing me to shadow a wry, tenacious, often battered and banged up Peyton Sherwood, through the surreal underbelly of a city I have never stepped foot in. I felt like I was there. Curiously, I had a hankering for milk while reading this novel! Great job, Mr. Atwood! A very satisfying read that has earned the honor of a position in my "Do Not Discard" personal library.
May 30, 2020
A very good book by my dear friend Russell Atwood. Loved the setting, characters and the plot. Like how the main character takes his share of bumps and bruisers and most of all I loved the way it ended.
June 28, 2018
Classic gumshoe feel set in 1990's New York with rave culture as a peripheral feature. The story line was o.k., the writing meh. The narrator of the audiobook was weak.
Want to read
December 26, 2019Synopsis: PI Payton Sherwood gets mugged in New York and loses his valuable watch. To get it back, he needs to find a 16-year-old runaway.
March 17, 2022
I really like the extensive accuracy and knowledge used to paint the Village and New York City around the main character. Really great read.
August 4, 2024
A good read
September 18, 2014
My only previous knowledge of Russell Atwood was through reading his short story "East Village Noir' which I thoroughly enjoyed and which was an Amazon Kindle recommendation.
This novel also concerns the same protagonist as the previous title, Payton Sherwood, who is a down at heel P.I. living and working in the East Village of New York. Payton is barely makes a living, lives in his office/apartment, has a lost love, for which he still carries a torch and has a world weary view of life. In fact all the makings of a typical Pulp/Noir hero. Payton's only real item of value is his Rolex watch and when he is mugged and the watch is stolen, this sparks Payton off into an investigation that involves stolen drugs and a few grizzly murders.
The novel has all the ingredients that I like in the pulp/noir style of writing and Payton, although having all the attributes of a cliched P.I., is also a touch vulnerable and although possessing a tough guy attitude, he is not very good at the physical side of things. These flaws are enough to set him apart from your usual pulp hero and are enough for me to experience more of Payton's investigations.
This novel also concerns the same protagonist as the previous title, Payton Sherwood, who is a down at heel P.I. living and working in the East Village of New York. Payton is barely makes a living, lives in his office/apartment, has a lost love, for which he still carries a torch and has a world weary view of life. In fact all the makings of a typical Pulp/Noir hero. Payton's only real item of value is his Rolex watch and when he is mugged and the watch is stolen, this sparks Payton off into an investigation that involves stolen drugs and a few grizzly murders.
The novel has all the ingredients that I like in the pulp/noir style of writing and Payton, although having all the attributes of a cliched P.I., is also a touch vulnerable and although possessing a tough guy attitude, he is not very good at the physical side of things. These flaws are enough to set him apart from your usual pulp hero and are enough for me to experience more of Payton's investigations.
April 27, 2013
New York private eye, Payton Sherwood sees three men begin to rough up a young woman in his neighborhood. Payton steps in and the three men turn their anger on him. He's left barely conscious and when the men leave, the girl comes out of hiding and steals his rolex watch.
Thereafter, this noir novel leads the reader through Payton's steps to search for the girl, find out why the men were after her and to try to get his expensive watch back.
I found that the book seemed like others that I have read and that the young girl did little to evoke sympathy.
Payton becomes involved in one bad situation after another and I began to wonder why he continues on this investigation rather than going into one that would generate a fee for him.
The author's descriptions of New York city, the homeless and the neighborhood parks was rock solid and one of the best parts of the book.
Thereafter, this noir novel leads the reader through Payton's steps to search for the girl, find out why the men were after her and to try to get his expensive watch back.
I found that the book seemed like others that I have read and that the young girl did little to evoke sympathy.
Payton becomes involved in one bad situation after another and I began to wonder why he continues on this investigation rather than going into one that would generate a fee for him.
The author's descriptions of New York city, the homeless and the neighborhood parks was rock solid and one of the best parts of the book.
August 17, 2011
PI Payton Sherwood is not having a good day. He's just finished a stint in Syracuse, found out his favorite market has closed down, and even gotten the crap kicked out of him while defending a young girl. Oh, and that young girl? She just stole his most prized possession - a Rolex watch. Russell Atwood sets up Payton nicely in his first novel, leading the mostly moral investigator into New York's Alphabet City on a quest for answers (and his timepiece). An ok debut that hopefully leads to bigger and better things.
May 6, 2016
A gift from a friend, had never read the author. A very New York centric thriller with no real ending. I mean there is a ending, just no riding of into the sunset with a clear road. Wouldn't keep me from picking up another.
December 13, 2011
I bought this because I enjoyed the author's short story East Village Noir. This is a good book, but the writing style is not as special as the short story's.
September 22, 2012
Great stuff! -
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews